What type of music would you like at Mass?

[VociMike]

Are women allowed to sing Gregorian chant?

No flaming please! I ask since there is a parish that has it but its all men.

Absolutely. The Church I attend has both a men’s and a women’s schola (Gregorian chant group), and they alternate during a given Mass, which is to say that e.g. one Sunday the women might do the Introit and Communion, and the men will do the Offertory. Or sometimes the polyphonic choir will do one or more of those parts.

And of course, everybody sings the Gregorian chants of the Ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei, as well as the acclamations, Pater Noster, etc).

And the people sing the roof off, lest anybody think otherwise. Singing-wise it’s the loudest Mass of the weekend.

 

[Hellisreal]

Your parish is soooo blessed. I am very happy for you

Absolutely. The Church I attend has both a men’s and a women’s schola (Gregorian chant group), and they alternate during a given Mass, which is to say that e.g. one Sunday the women might do the Introit and Communion, and the men will do the Offertory. Or sometimes the polyphonic choir will do one or more of those parts.

And of course, everybody sings the Gregorian chants of the Ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei, as well as the acclamations, Pater Noster, etc).

And the people sing the roof off, lest anybody think otherwise. Singing-wise it’s the loudest Mass of the weekend.

 

[m134e5]

I am the pianist/organist for our little cathedral. I try to choose music that is familiar to the congregation. I also use the responsorial psalms that are in the missalette so that folks can sing along.
That being said, what kind of music would you like at Mass if there is no real choir?

Traditional hymns (the tempo needs to be kept at a fast enough speed, unless there is a cantor who can sing slow songs without sounding like they are about to die- even if the hymn is a sad one).

 

[m134e5]

More masculine tunes. Something with some power and heaviness. Thats how I can describe it. The music now is too feminine

So basically something with a steady, well-defined beat (like a march would have), more variation in the chords (a nice melody sounds boring if you just use the 3 chords that all melodies can be harmonized with)?

 

[Sarabande]

More masculine tunes. Something with some power and heaviness. Thats how I can describe it. The music now is too feminine

Masculine and Feminine tunes? I definitely would not say that the simpy, happy-happy-joy-joy music that is being played in many churches today are “feminine”. I’m a woman and I definitely do not consider them feminine. They’re just, as someone I know has said before, “Too sweet to be wholesome”. That can be a man or a woman. Ha! Ha! But I don’t think of music as a gender anyway.

 

[Sarabande]

I want Gregorian Chant to come back…as Vatican II stated, it should have a prominant place. I have yet to be at a Mass with Chant.

I wouldn’t mind the occasional Mass that is completely sung as I have heard was done in past times…before my time, but sounds wonderful.

Oh, yes, totally. I would love a completely sung mass as well. I think Gregorian chant is slowly making a comeback in some of the churches - maybe not in more suburban parishes, but I’ve heard it in the city parishes, at my Cathedral Basilica and even in at a teensy-tiny rural mountain parish of Irish Catholics that I attend when I’m at my family’s vacation home. The pastor who taught it to the parish was actually of the Byzentine Rite, but was able to say mass for the Latin Rite. He got burned out unfortunately and was transferred - was the only priest for three parishes - so I don’t know if the new pastor has kept it there.

 

[Sarabande]

Are women allowed to sing Gregorian chant?

No flaming please! I ask since there is a parish that has it but its all men.

Yes. My husband and I attended a Vespers at Sacre Coeur in Paris. They had a choir of sisters who had the most beautiful and heavenly sound to their chant. Most of the sisters were young, so they had a nice, young sound. It was spiritually inspiring.

 

[VociMike]

Oh, yes, totally. I would love a completely sung mass as well. I think Gregorian chant is slowly making a comeback in some of the churches - maybe not in more suburban parishes, but I’ve heard it in the city parishes, at my Cathedral Basilica and even in at a teensy-tiny rural mountain parish of Irish Catholics that I attend when I’m at my family’s vacation home. The pastor who taught it to the parish was actually of the Byzentine Rite, but was able to say mass for the Latin Rite. He got burned out unfortunately and was transferred - was the only priest for three parishes - so I don’t know if the new pastor has kept it there.

I think one of the keys to the liturgical reform which the Holy Father has called for, and which I do believe is already happening, is the formation of travelling scholas which will go from parish to parish in their areas. I’m convinced a few such scholas in each diocese would have a substantial impact.

 

[Sarabande]

I think one of the keys to the liturgical reform which the Holy Father has called for, and which I do believe is already happening, is the formation of travelling scholas which will go from parish to parish in their areas. I’m convinced a few such scholas in each diocese would have a substantial impact.

What a wonderful idea! I hope this really is taking place.

 

[Michael_Welter]

What’s with the Haugen and Hass bashing - some of their stuff is good isn’t it? Easy to sing, melodic time, folks know it. What gives? I will agree that I don’t like the syncopated stuff - we just can’t do it right anyway.

Well, we can start with boring melodies, but that’s not the worst part. The lyrics can only be described as politically correct. They use “inclusive” language. Personally, I find it offensive.

 

[Sarabande]

Well, we can start with boring melodies, but that’s not the worst part. The lyrics can only be described as politically correct. They use “inclusive” language. Personally, I find it offensive.

In addition, the problem with Hass and Haugen is that their music is kitch. They sound like they just slopped stuff together and have given no regard to the standards, rules and genius of western art music (which is what they are writing in). The “composers” have written music that sounds more like a cheesy pop tune from the 70s and 80s and then try to hold it up against our long history of sacred music that was always the cream of the crop within the secular AND the sacred.

In terms of the music theory and composition, I do not speak subjectively, but as someone who has been studying and performing music since the age of four. I’m not the greatest musician, but I and other musicians who have studied classical western art music understand the theory and beauty that goes behind the composition. It’s very hard to accept something as equal to someone like Palestrina, Tallis or Bach when you do know the science behind it. (It’s even harder for my husband because he is actually taking composition lessons.) But in my subjective point of view, I believe only the best should be given to God when at mass, so it’s very hard for me to abide music by people such as Haugen or Sr. Bernadette.

— I do understand when one sometimes cannot help liking something that they know is not great music. I admittedly enjoy rock and pop music, even though I know how the composition is inferior to that of Bach. So, I try not to compare the genres, but keep them in separate realms - thus I do not want folk, pop or rock tunes where I believe only the best should be given. That includes badly composed hymns.

 

[Hellisreal]

Why cant my parish have you or even anyone who cares about music???

I hate to complain so often about it, but It really makes me upset.

Sorry to say, and yes I am an orthodox catholic, and yes I still see its more than that,

but come on now!

How hard is this to pull off?
We have NO TALENT at our parish. NONE/

 

[lak611]

Why cant my parish have you or even anyone who cares about music???

I hate to complain so often about it, but It really makes me upset.

Sorry to say, and yes I am an orthodox catholic, and yes I still see its more than that,

but come on now!

How hard is this to pull off?
We have NO TALENT at our parish. NONE/

Are you a musician by any chance? Perhaps God may be calling you to this role.

 

[cheese_sdc]

What type of music would you like at Mass?

There are only two types of music. Good and bad.

I vote for good music for Mass.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

In addition, the problem with Hass and Haugen is that their music is kitch. They sound like they just slopped stuff together and have given no regard to the standards, rules and genius of western art music (which is what they are writing in). The “composers” have written music that sounds more like a cheesy pop tune from the 70s and 80s and then try to hold it up against our long history of sacred music that was always the cream of the crop within the secular AND the sacred.

In terms of the music theory and composition, I do not speak subjectively, but as someone who has been studying and performing music since the age of four. I’m not the greatest musician, but I and other musicians who have studied classical western art music understand the theory and beauty that goes behind the composition. It’s very hard to accept something as equal to someone like Palestrina, Tallis or Bach when you do know the science behind it. (It’s even harder for my husband because he is actually taking composition lessons.) But in my subjective point of view, I believe only the best should be given to God when at mass, so it’s very hard for me to abide music by people such as Haugen or Sr. Bernadette.

— I do understand when one sometimes cannot help liking something that they know is not great music. I admittedly enjoy rock and pop music, even though I know how the composition is inferior to that of Bach. So, I try not to compare the genres, but keep them in separate realms - thus I do not want folk, pop or rock tunes where I believe only the best should be given. That includes badly composed hymns.

Well not all parishes have classical musicians and experts on Gregorian Chant.

Heck, in my parish we’re lucky to get the volunteers we get.

Haugen and Haas are fine by me.

I also like John Michael Talbot, the St. Louis Jesuits and I like Gregorian Chant.

I don’t like any music that the people can’t sing along with because its out of key or done poorly.

Jim

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

Well not all parishes have classical musicians and experts on Gregorian Chant.

Heck, in my parish we’re lucky to get the volunteers we get.

Even in parishes that do have expert musicians volunteering, I would hate to have the music ministry limited to professional musicians and auditioned choir members. One of the beauties of a Catholic church choir is that you don’t have to audition (at least, not in any parish I’ve ever belonged to). “Real” people can join the choir, as long as they can (more or less) carry a tune. My choir is open to anyone who wants to join, and we’ve been told we sound really good.

I don’t think it’s necessary to have every single song be singable by the congregation, but they should be singable by the average (non-professional) choir member. Even if some of the songs are very challenging, there are always some people in the choir with a lot of experience/musical ability, and they give the rest something to follow.

Mudgie-in-training and freelance sparkle/coffee grinds sprinkler

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

What do I like?

Songs that are not pitched so high a dog is the only one who can hear them. I can’t sing that high!! My husband certainly can’t.

Songs that do not drag. About 2/3 of the Haugen-Haas-St. Louis Jesuits-FEL-Oregon Catholic Press songs drag, esp. “Song of the Body of Christ” (which has nothing to do with Christ’s body, but tells how we "come to share our story, we come to break the bread, we come to know our rising from the deeeeeeeead…). Ditto “We Have Been Told”.

Songs with reverence to God. There is nothing reverent about “Gather Us In” the rich and haughty, the poor and the humble, the kids and the seniors, the preppies and hippies…I feel as if I am setting the stage for a play when I sing it, introducing characters, instead of showing any kind of reverence. Might as well be singing “Master of the House” from Les Miserable.

There is one refrain that is excellent by Haas. I am unsure of the number in the Gather hymnal, but it is based on the Magnificat, and the refrain is “Holy is Your Name, through all the generations! Everlasting is Your mercy, to the people You have chosen, and Holy is Your Name!” This one works! It is a rarity.

Otherwise, I like:

Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
Come Thou, Creator King
Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All (at a lower pitch)
All People That On Earth Do Dwell
At the Cross Her Station Keeping
Be Thou My Vision
Ubi Caritas
Dona Nobis Pacem
Come Holy Ghost
Earth and All Stars

I am not adverse to choral arrangments at appropriate times. It is why I wished the schola sang on Saturday evening.

 

[ravenonthecross]

I definitely vote for all Gregorian Chants, as they are to be encourage in accordance with Vatican II, and the Church’s Stance on Sacred Music. After watching mass on EWTN, the Our Lady of the Angels uses the Adoremus Hymnal which I believe uses only Traditional and Latin chants and hymns, thus no secular, Haas, or Haugen Music. So all the Sacred music in the Adoremus Hymnal, is thus fit to convey the praise of God as during Mass when Earth and Heaven meet!

 

[sosayi1960]

Well, we can start with boring melodies, but that’s not the worst part. The lyrics can only be described as politically correct. They use “inclusive” language. Personally, I find it offensive.

What does politically correct"inclusive" language mean. Wasn’t the Lord inclusive to all people?
I’ve been to mass that has all Latin. Good Heavens, it sound like Disney tunes.

 

[lak611]

What does politically correct"inclusive" language mean. Wasn’t the Lord inclusive to all people?
I’ve been to mass that has all Latin. Good Heavens, it sound like Disney tunes.

I am a woman, and I am against “inclusive language”. I also have no problem with saying “for us men and for our salvation” in the Nicene Creed. Inclusive language waters down and changes the meaning of the Bible, the hymns and the prayers.